NEW DELHI: The Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms Limited, India's largest vertically integrated media and entertainment company,has placed foreign currency convertible bonds worth upto $100 million (including a green shoe of $15 million) for listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange.
According to sources in Singapore capital markets, Zee Tele's bonds have already been oversubscribed 14 times.
The bonds are convertible into newly issued ordinary shares of Rupee 1.0 per share of Zee, at the option of the bondholders, at a conversion price of approximately Rs. 197.24 per share, which is at a 35 per cent premium to the company's closing share price on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) of Rs. 146.10 as on 20 April 2004.
The bonds carry a coupon rate of 0.50 per cent per annum and shall be redeemable at a price of 116.24 per cent, if not converted into ordinary shares during the period.
The issue, which was launched post trading hours of the BSE on 20 April 2004, have reportedly received a strong demand. UBS AG and Citigroup Global Markets Inc were the joint book runners for the issue.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajiv Garg, CEO Corporate Strategy and Finance of Zee Telefilms said, "We are encouraged with the market's response for the transaction. This positions us well to take advantage of opportunities opening up in the media and entertainment sector."
Zee is India's largest vertically integrated media and entertainment company. It is the largest producer and aggregator of Hindi programming in the world with an extensive library housing television content, movie titles and news content,according to an official statement from the company this morning.
Zee is also India's largest cable distributor. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Siticable. Zee's channels are widely distributed across many countries, especially for South Asian audiences. It is a significant player in the film production, music publishing and education business.
The company has clarified that this announcement is not, and is not intended to be, an offer of securities of Zee Telefilms Limited for sale in the United States. Securities of Zee Telefilms Limited may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the US Securities Act of 1933. There is not, and is not intended to be, a public offering of the securities of Zee Telefilms Limited in the US.
